Greenpeace condemns rumoured delay in deposit scheme for drinks containers in Scotland

The DRS initiative would require shoppers to pay 20p extra when buying drinks in cans and bottles, with that money being refunded when they return the container.

The plan, already delayed by the pandemic, is apparently set to be delayed further.

Nina Schrank, senior plastics campaigner at Greenpeace, said: “Nicola Sturgeon rightly said that the Glasgow climate summit didn’t go far enough to protect our planet, so why is her government choosing to kick this vital environmental scheme even further down the road?

“It’s shocking to see the Scottish government once again choosing to delay the long-awaited Deposit Return Scheme until 2023 while continuing to spout fine words about environmental protection.

“This vital manifesto promise, backed by the Scottish Greens and SNP, has yet to be delivered and this new delay is not good enough.

“If Nicola Sturgeon’s government wants its green credentials to be taken seriously, it needs to start turning words into actions: more delay means plastic pollution continues to devastate people and planet, and her words ring hollow.

“Our planet can’t afford many more broken promises and delays like this.”